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Supposed inverter replacement. Had a check hybrid system warning on the display.

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by mypriuscious, Jul 2, 2015.

  1. mypriuscious

    mypriuscious Member

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    I have a 2010 Prius with 161k on it and they called me saying it might be the inverter. Asking for labor approval to determine final reason.

    I am mechanically inclined but I haven't been unable to find anyone talking about having done it. Looks like unbolt and replace.

    SM-N910V ?
     
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    There was a recall on the inverter
     
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    ask them for the codes first.
     
  4. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    I would insist on the Inverter failures recall....................
     
  5. mypriuscious

    mypriuscious Member

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    Yeah, well they asked for 585 dollars in diagnosis fees leading me to believe they aren't going for the recall.

    SM-N910V ?
     
  6. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    You can get a used inverter for about $300 or less.....and install it yourself. $585 to diagnose? I suggest you go get your car back and bring to their attention the recall if you haven't done it.
     
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  7. mypriuscious

    mypriuscious Member

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    Yeah, I've seen a couple on eBay. So it really isn't difficult? I'm going to call now.

    SM-N910V ?
     
  8. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    installing an inverter is pretty straight forward if you have some basic mechanic tools. There should be tutorials online.

    But I think step #1 is to determine if the Inverter is at fault for your problems....and it shouldn't cost $585 to do it
     
  9. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    My approach would be to get in contact with Toyota customer care services. You should be covered under the recall and your money refunded or credit it to you
     
  10. mypriuscious

    mypriuscious Member

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    So they call me back 24 hours later and inform me that it wasn't doing it anymore. And that they wanted to keep it till morning to see act up again. It didn't. I didn't mention before that they had it the week before because I thought it was prob unrelated. But maybe not, Idk.
    They ended up not charging me anything. Which I suspect that something may not have been plugged back in all the way from the previous service visit. But that's just speculation.


    SM-N910V ?
     
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Did you have the recall done?
     
  12. mypriuscious

    mypriuscious Member

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    The only recall I've had done was the software update for the fan on the battery. As far as I have been told by the dealer that's the only recall.
     
  13. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Strange it went from $585 diagnostics to zero.
     
  14. mypriuscious

    mypriuscious Member

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    Right! They also tried to infer that the DEi remote start may have caused the problem and people shouldn't do that because the high voltage could kill them. This guy who called me and said that was different than the original service writer who I've dealt with on any other service issues. I kinda laughed at him and said, "you mean to tell me that 240v or whatever it is exactly can pass through that wire that's designed to maintain .5v without melting it first?" Just to get him to calm down on trying to rape my wallet.
     
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    The only software recall was inverter related, to protect it better during hard acceleration. So likely there's just some confusion regarding recall description, but you have had the "inverter" recall.
     
  16. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    With the recall done, they've most likely extended your inverter warranty to 150k miles, which you seem to be over now.
     
  17. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    Seems that the "problem" ended with a "Happy Ending" .:rolleyes:
     
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  18. mypriuscious

    mypriuscious Member

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    A bit of follow up. Problem came back this past Monday. Back to dealer, a relay block went bad. Which, per Toyota, typically happens from idling to much?

    The service writer had told me that when the other guy called me it was because he had an emergency trip to the dentist and it wasn't clarified that the diag was free.

    I also discovered that they hadn't even put a scanner on it yet when the service manager called me to tell me diag fees. What a schmuck.
     
  19. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    This car actually doesn't idle much
     
  20. mypriuscious

    mypriuscious Member

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    They had to call Toyota for assistance and that's what Toyota said. That they've typically only seen it in hybrids that are taxi's.